Factor analysis in sustainable development research

2021 ◽  
pp. 83-116
Author(s):  
Iwona Olejnik ◽  
Blaženka Knežević ◽  
Magdalena Stefańska
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Retail Industry ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Methods Of Analysis

Too much data describing a given phenomenon requires synthesizing them. For this purpose, researchers can use various methods of analysis. Factor analysis is one of them. In this section, first the basic theoretical aspects of factor analysis, as well as the stages of its use are described while presenting the essential minimum necessary to understand the essence of the method. The second part presents an example of the use of this method in research on sustainable consumption. The last part of this chapter presents case study of the use of factor analysis in research on managers’ ethics in retail industry.

Qualitative and quantitative methods in sustainable development

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Focus Group Interview ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Group Interview ◽  
Development Research

Systematic research and comprehensive analyses allow to monitor the implementation of the sustainable development goals. Obviously, when you are interested in the selected issue of sustainable development, it is worth using data from the secondary sources in the first place. This e-book presents a few selected methods that will allow you to answer the questions: how to gather data and how to analyse them? Among the data collection methods presented in this book, we have chosen both: qualitative, in particular focus group interview, and quantitative—based on a questionnaire. In terms of data analysis methods, we present three methods: factor analysis, structural equation modelling and data envelopment analysis. The examples presented in this book relate to sustainable development, for example: sustainable consumption, ecological culture, better nutrition, agricultural development and many more. The book consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 “Qualitative methods” presents the issues concerning the methodology of qualitative research, designing a focus group interview, conducting a focus group interview and analysis of qualitative data using the CAQDAS programs. The main goal of Chapter 2 titled “Quantitative methods” is to exhibit the basics of survey research that can be used in analyses of sustainable development. In particular, this part presents the measurement levels, questionnaire design, population and sample, and the ways of presenting the results of quantitative research. Chapter 3 “Factor analysis in sustainable development research” describes the basic theoretical aspects of factor analysis. The second part of this chapter presents an example of the use of this method in research on sustainable consumption. The last part of this chapter presents case study of the use of factor analysis in research on managers’ ethics in retail industry. Chapter 4 titled “Structural equation modelling in sustainable development research” is dedicated to the structural equation modeling methods applied to solve sustainable development research problems. A structural equation model is an abstraction of reality, and the researcher's job is to build a model that approximates that reality as closely as possible. And the aim of Chapter 5 “Data envelopment analysis methods in sustainable agricultural development research” is to determine the relative technical efficiency of representative agricultural farms from the individual European Union countries.

scholarly journals Changes in Pre-Service Teachers’ Values, Sense of Agency, Motivation and Consumption Practices: A Case Study of an Education for Sustainability Course

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen Merritt ◽  
Annie Hale ◽  
Leanna Archambault
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sense Of Agency ◽  
Education For Sustainability ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Consumption Practices

Teacher education has a critical role to play as people around the world strive to reach the Sustainable Development goals. Education for sustainability (EfS) aims to motivate and prepare educators to create a more sustainable future through education. The purpose of this case study was to explore pre-service teachers’ changes in their values, sense of agency, consumption practices and motivation after participation in a required EfS course. Students were enrolled in a hybrid course that conveyed content through digital stories followed by reflections, in-class discussions and activities. Ninety-one undergraduate students completed pre- and post-course surveys. Students reported significant changes in their beliefs about the relevance of sustainability education, attitudes toward sustainable development, self-efficacy, locus of control and sustainable consumption practices. Qualitative analysis of an open-ended question served to triangulate quantitative findings. Results support the need and potential for EfS courses for educators, particularly in the United States where such courses are not typically required or even offered at most universities.

A multiple-item scale for measuring “sustainable consumption behaviour” construct

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzana Quoquab ◽  
Jihad Mohammad ◽  
Nurain Nisa Sukari
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Future Generation ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Behaviour ◽  
Quality Life ◽  
The Future

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a reliable and valid scale with desirable psychometric properties and sufficient level of reliability and validity to measure sustainable consumption from consumer perspective. Design/methodology/approach In achieving this objective: the domain of the construct is specified; items are generated through qualitative interviews; the initial scale is purified, and finally it is validated. A survey yielded 1,002 complete, usable questionnaires in order to run the analysis. Data were splitted in half. First half was utilised for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the second half of the data were utilised to run confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The initial pool of item was tested using EFA via SPSS version 23. The CFA was conducted using SmartPLS-3.2.7 to confirm the dimensionality of sustainable consumption behaviour (SCB) scale. Findings The EFA result revealed that SCB is a three-dimensional construct which is consisted of 24 items. The scale includes: quality of life; care for environmental well-being; and care for the future generation. The CFA confirmed the dimensionality, reliability and validity of the SCB scale. Research limitations/implications This sustainable consumption scale can be used to determine individual’s level of responsibility towards living a quality life, environment welfare, as well as responsibility towards sustainability of the future generation. It is expected that this initiative will stimulate further research on regional, cultural and demographic differences in understanding sustainable development. Practical implications Marketing practitioners may benefit from this scale by understanding the SCB of the socially and environmentally conscious consumers. It may eventually assist them to shape their strategies to meet the increasing demands of environmentalists. Originality/value The notion of sustainable consumption received significant research attention in present decade. It is regarded as one of the major catalysts of the sustainable development. However, in most cases sustainable consumption phenomenon is discussed from greater economic perspective and not much effort has been paid to consider it from consumer’s perspective. Furthermore, there is a lack of readily available scale to measure this construct in the existing literature.

Creating Resilient Communities

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozge Yalciner Ercoskun
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
The World ◽  
Resilient Communities ◽  
Operational Information

Money is a human invention; it can be redesigned to fulfill today's needs. Local currencies are economic and social instruments, operating as supplements to conventional money. Local currencies can serve multiple purposes, including: stimulating the local economy, building an active social network and encouraging sustainable consumption. This chapter focuses on social local currencies and time banks and attempts to answer the question, how they can contribute to the local development and help to build a resilient community. The objectives of this chapter are to analyze what local currency is and how it works, and to provide operational information on how to build currency systems and time banks. The chapter also gives case study insights on how different communities and eco-villages in the world have managed to create resilient economies with local currencies. The chapter concludes by putting forward the significance of the resilient communities, thus contributing to the long-term goal of sustainable development.

scholarly journals Evaluation Of The Success Of A Master Of Business Administration Program: A Case Study Of Thammasat Business School

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 585-594
Author(s):  
Sripen Supmonchai ◽  
Nopadol Rompho
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Business School ◽  
Business Administration ◽  
Master Of Business Administration ◽  
Mba Students ◽  
Mba Program ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Analytical Tools

The objective of this study is to investigate the usefulness of knowledge gained from an MBA program based on the opinion of current MBA students. It was found that students believe the number of credits and the duration of study are appropriate. By using factor analysis on the usefulness of each MBA subject, five factors were found, all of which can explain overall usefulness by 50% (R2 = 50%). Those factors, ranked by effect, are the group of subjects related to 1) strategies and business model, 2) economics and finance, 3) sustainable development, 4) management analytical tools, and 5) relationship within organization. The findings from this research can be used to improve MBA curricula in the future.

Sociocultural memory development research drives new directions in gadgetry science

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Van Bergen ◽  
John Sutton
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Memory Development ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Cross Cultural Research

Abstract Sociocultural developmental psychology can drive new directions in gadgetry science. We use autobiographical memory, a compound capacity incorporating episodic memory, as a case study. Autobiographical memory emerges late in development, supported by interactions with parents. Intervention research highlights the causal influence of these interactions, whereas cross-cultural research demonstrates culturally determined diversity. Different patterns of inheritance are discussed.

Social Design for Services Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie SARANTOU ◽  
Satu MIETTINEN
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Social Design ◽  
Practical Action ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World

This paper addresses the fields of social and service design in development contexts, practice-based and constructive design research. A framework for social design for services will be explored through the survey of existing literature, specifically by drawing on eight doctoral theses that were produced by the World Design research group. The work of World Design researcher-designers was guided by a strong ethos of social and service design for development in marginalised communities. The paper also draws on a case study in Namibia and South Africa titled ‘My Dream World’. This case study presents a good example of how the social design for services framework functions in practice during experimentation and research in the field. The social design for services framework transfers the World Design group’s research results into practical action, providing a tool for the facilitation of design and research processes for sustainable development in marginal contexts.

Improving the integrated reporting of electric-power industry companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 922-939
Author(s):  
N.V. Malinovskaya ◽  
M.D. Malinovskii
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Electric Power ◽  
Electric Power Industry ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Methods Of Analysis ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
Guiding Principles

Subject. This article deals with the issues relating to improving integrated reporting in terms of dovetailing strategic objectives with capital changes. Objectives. The article aims to develop a system of indicators for disclosure of capital types in integrated reporting of electricity generating companies, as well as recommendations aimed at implementing the fundamental concepts and guiding principles of integrated reporting. Methods. For the study, we used the methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization, and abstraction. As a case study, we conduct a comparative analysis of the disclosure of six types of capital by the largest electricity generating companies, namely PAO Inter RAO, AO Rosenergoatom and PAO RusHydro. Results. The article formulates proposals for disclosure of capital information to address such a lack of accountability as a contradiction to the principle of coherence. It proposes a system of indicators (core and additional) for disclosure of six types of capital by electricity generating companies. Conclusions. A significant reporting problem is the lack of correlation between key strategic objectives and capital changes. The formulated recommendations for disclosure of capital information can help solve this problem, and increase the attractiveness of the integrated report for capital providers.

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